HIV and Its Treatment: What You Should Know

HIV and Its Treatment — Seeing an HIV Doctor
Seeing an HIV Doctor
I am HIV positive. What kind of doctor do I
Terms Used in This Fact Sheet:
need?
Baseline: an initial measurement (such as CD4 count or viral
Your doctor (or other health care provider) should be
load) made before starting therapy and used as a reference point to
experienced in treating HIV and AIDS. You may want to see
monitor your HIV infection.
an infectious disease specialist. You will need to work closely
with your doctor to make informed decisions about your
Kidney function tests: blood and urine tests that determine if your
kidneys are working properly.
treatment, so it is important to find a doctor with whom you
are comfortable.
Liver function tests (LFTs): tests that measure the blood levels of
liver enzymes (proteins made and used by the liver) to determine if
What can I expect at the doctor’s office?
your liver is working properly.
Your doctor will ask you questions about your health and
Urinalysis: test looking for the presence of glucose, protein, blood,
lifestyle, conduct a physical exam, and order blood tests.
or any signs of infection in a patient's urine.
This is a good time to ask your doctor questions. Write down

any questions you have and take them with you to your
• Viral load test – A viral load test measures the amount
appointment.
of HIV in a sample of blood. This test shows how well
your immune system is controlling the virus.
Women should have a pregnancy test (see HIV During
Pregnancy, Labor and Delivery, and After Birth Fact Sheet The two viral load tests commonly used for HIV are:
series) and a gynecologic examination with Pap smear.
• HIV RNA amplification (RT-PCR) test
• Branched chain DNA (bDNA) test
What questions should I ask my doctor?
• Drug resistance testing – Drug resistance testing
determines if an individual’s HIV strain is resistant
You should ask your doctor about:
to any anti-HIV medications. HIV can mutate (change
• Risks and benefits of HIV treatment
form), resulting in HIV that cannot be controlled with
• Other diseases you may be at risk of
certain medications.
• How your lifestyle will change with HIV infection
• How you can avoid transmitting HIV to others
To ensure accurate results, viral load testing should be done
• How you can achieve and maintain a healthier lifestyle
at two different times, by the same laboratory, using the same
type of test. The results of different types of tests may differ.
What tests will my doctor order?
Your doctor may also order:
It is very important to have a CD4 count and a viral load
• Complete blood count
test done at your first doctor’s visit. You should also have
• Blood chemistry profile (including liver and kidney
drug resistance testing. The results will provide a baseline
function tests)
measurement for future tests.
• Urinalysis
• Tests for other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
• CD4 count – CD4 cells, also called CD4+ T cells or CD4
• Tests for other infections, such as hepatitis,
lymphocytes, are a type of white blood cell that fights
tuberculosis, or toxoplasmosis
infection. HIV destroys CD4 cells, weakening your body’s
immune system. A CD4 count is the number of CD4 cells
in a sample of blood. A CD4 count measures the health of
the immune system.
This information is based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Guidelines for the Use of
Page 1 of 2
Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents (available at http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines).
Reviewed
December 2009

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HIV and Its Treatment — Seeing an HIV Doctor
Am I ready to begin HIV treatment?
Once you begin taking anti-HIV medications, you may need to
continue taking them for the rest of your life. Deciding when
or if to begin treatment depends on your health (see Starting
Anti-HIV Medications Fact Sheet) and your readiness to
follow a treatment regimen that may be complicated. You and
your doctor should discuss your readiness to begin treatment
as well as strategies to help you follow your treatment regimen
(see What is Treatment Adherence and Adhering to a
Regimen Fact Sheets).
If my doctor and I decide to delay treatment,
will I need to have my CD4 count and viral load
tested again?
Yes. HIV-infected people who have not started anti-HIV
medications should have a viral load test every 3 to 4 months
and a CD4 count every 3 to 6 months. You and your doctor
will use the test results to monitor your infection and to decide
when to start treatment.
For more information:
Contact an AIDSinfo Health Information Specialist at
1–800–448–0440 or http://aidsinfo.nih.gov. See your doctor
for medical advice.
This information is based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Guidelines for the Use of
Page 2 of 2
Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents (available at http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines).
Reviewed
December 2009

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